1
as in official
a person who holds a public office
spoke to high-ranking functionaries at the embassy in the hopes that they could help
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in bureaucrat
a worker in a government agency
the faceless functionaries at the Internal Revenue Service
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of functionary
Everyone else, from cabinet members to party functionaries, is kept on a long leash.
—
Constanze Stelzenmüller, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021
Think about your last price negotiation—with a car dealer, a potential new hire's salary demands or your least favorite procurement functionary.
—Danny Ertel, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Thousands of operatives and functionaries are wounded.
—Daniel Estrin, NPR, 18 Sep. 2024
Geoffrey Mason was barely 30, a control-room functionary working a down day at the 1972 Munich Olympics, when history called on a push-button phone.
—Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for functionary 
Constanze Stelzenmüller, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021
Think about your last price negotiation—with a car dealer, a potential new hire's salary demands or your least favorite procurement functionary.
—Danny Ertel, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Thousands of operatives and functionaries are wounded.
—Daniel Estrin, NPR, 18 Sep. 2024
Geoffrey Mason was barely 30, a control-room functionary working a down day at the 1972 Munich Olympics, when history called on a push-button phone.
—Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for functionary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for functionary
Noun
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Trump officials slam New York judge Several Trump administration officials criticized Engelmayer’s decision Sunday.—
Bart Jansen,
USA TODAY,
11 Feb. 2025
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Jordanian aid officials say airlifts can get medicine into Gaza more reliably and faster than trucks.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
10 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Itay’s official cinematic and cultural organizations and departments have partnered effectively with the Venice Festival, even if those partnerships were often fraught with pressures as competing arts fiefdoms set bureaucrat against bureaucrat.—
Steven Gaydos,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2025
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Current and former officials see it as a campaign of retribution against those who opposed his earlier work, as well as an opportunity to fulfill his most controversial policies by sidelining bureaucrats who get in his way.—
Brett Murphy,
ProPublica,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Police have not released the identity of the officer or the gunman.—
Landon Mion,
Fox News,
8 Feb. 2025
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The officer approached the man, identified as Espinoza, for questioning, the bureau said.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The robbery occurred about 7:15 p.m. when a man with a pistol took about $60 from Richard Caldwell, 22, the 7-Eleven clerk.—
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette,
arkansasonline.com,
5 Feb. 2025
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The Southwest desk clerk didn’t share my enthusiasm.—
David Hudnall,
Kansas City Star,
31 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Linda Gefen, Boca Raton The master of distraction Trump’s proposal that the U.S. take over the Gaza Strip and develop it into a beach paradise was concocted to distract us from his real agenda: demolish the government, replace federal workers with machines and give the savings to his rich friends.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Feb. 2025
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While some believe tipping should be purely voluntary, many service industry workers depend on gratuities as their primary source of income.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
15 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The audit marks part of the broader effort led by Democratic lawmakers and federal employee unions to provide transparency and accountability about DOGE’s activities under President Donald Trump’s Republican administration.—
Fatima Hussein,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Feb. 2025
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The messages also had threats to other pupils and school employees, the release said.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacramento Bee,
14 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near functionary
Cite this Entry
“Functionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/functionary. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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